Halichoeres adustus
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Halichoeres adustus faces significant pressure from coral reef degradation throughout its limited range in the Western Pacific. The species is particularly vulnerable to bleaching events and ocean acidification that destroy the complex reef structures it depends on for shelter and feeding. Overfishing of reef ecosystems has also reduced prey availability and altered the delicate ecological balance of its habitat.
Habitat
This wrasse species inhabits coral reefs and rocky reef areas in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific. It typically occurs at depths ranging from shallow reef flats to deeper reef slopes, where it seeks shelter among coral formations and rocky crevices.